Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br /> INTRODUCTION <br /> NC Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division (REDD) will administer the Community <br /> Development Block Grant Coronavirus(CDBG-CV)funds awarded to the State by the U. S. Department <br /> of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)to support North Carolina's COVID-19 response efforts.This <br /> allocation was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public <br /> Law 116-136, which was signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020,to respond to the growing <br /> effects of this historic public health crisis. Initially, REDD makes available approximately$27.5 million <br /> through awarding grants to non-entitlement communities (i.e., incorporated municipalities under <br /> 50,000 and counties under 200,000 in population). <br /> The North Carolina CDBG-CV Program is designed to help a non-entitlement municipality or county to <br /> prepare, prevent, or respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.The activities must be <br /> most critical to their locality and primarily for their low-and moderate-income residents. Beginning <br /> September 1, 2020, REDD will award CDBG-CV funds on a first-come,first-served basis with a focus on <br /> local needs identified by the community in collaboration with state and local health officials. Applicants <br /> may view current COVID-19 metrics on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services <br /> website at https://covidl9.ncdhhs.gov/. <br /> AREAS OF FOCUS FOR CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE <br /> As noted by Governor Roy Cooper, "efforts to support families, small business, and economic recovery <br /> remain critical" during the COVID-19 pandemic. In support of these public health and economic recovery <br /> goals, North Carolina CDBG-CV Program projects must incorporate at least one of the following as an <br /> area of focus: <br /> ❑ Support families and communities through telehealth support and other public services. <br /> ❑ Protect the most vulnerable and high-risk populations. <br /> ❑ Assist small businesses with economic recovery. <br /> ❑ Address testing, tracing, and trends. <br /> FUNDING PRIORITIES BY ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY <br /> The State has established the following funding priorities by eligible activity: <br /> • Public Service:The priority in this category is subsistence payments to prevent evictions and <br /> utility disconnections. Food distribution,testing and diagnosis, and employment training for <br /> health care workers on the frontlines are also prioritized. <br /> • Public Facilities: The priority in this category is broadband services and enhancing internet <br /> access that supports increased connectivity to schools,jobs, and healthcare. This category also <br /> includes building rehabilitation or improvements to support activities such as repurposing <br /> buildings into patient treatment centers. <br /> • Economic Development: The priority in this category is to provide financial assistance to <br /> businesses with 100 or fewer employees, including microenterprises with five or fewer <br /> employees. The focus is to support businesses that manufacture medical supplies, and to help <br /> small businesses impacted by COVID-19 create and retain jobs. <br />